Sprayed but undeterred: ACO sprayed while rescuing skunk in cage thrown off bridge in Warren County

WARREN COUNTY, N.J. — A skunk trapped in a cage and thrown off a bridge into a creek was rescued by a Warren County animal control officer this week, prompting a state investigation and charges against the person responsible.

According to Animal Control Officer Robert Lagonera, the animal was found struggling to stay afloat in shallow water inside a Havaheart-style trap when he arrived at the scene in Phillipsburg on Sunday.

In a video and statement posted to the Washington Borough Community Facebook page, Lagonera described the incident as “disturbing” and emphasized that such actions are not only inhumane but illegal.

“Someone decided it was a good idea to throw a live skunk in a Havaheart trap off a bridge and into a creek to drown,” Lagonera said. “They missed the deepest part and the skunk was treading water trying to survive.”

Lagonera said he abandoned standard precautions, including using a bed sheet to cover the trap, in order to act quickly. After successfully removing the skunk from the water, he said he was sprayed in the face—a moment he shared with some humor in his post.

“If you were in ShopRite on Route 31 yesterday and smelled skunk, that was me,” he joked.

Despite the smell, Lagonera used the opportunity to educate residents about the legal and ethical responsibilities involved in trapping wildlife.

“Doing something like this is highly illegal. If you violate those rules—like tossing the poor thing off a bridge—you can and will be prosecuted,” he said.

Lagonera said he contacted New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Conservation Officers, who, with assistance from Warren County Communications, were able to identify the offender. The individual, whose identity was not reelased, is now facing criminal charges for their actions.

Lagonera also cautioned residents who choose to trap wildlife on their own to plan ahead and understand the rules. He emphasized that his role is not free pest control, but rather to provide guidance—or in limited cases, assistance—for a fee as outlined in his contract.

“If you’re going to try and trap an animal yourself that you consider a pest, yes, you are legally allowed to do that. But there are rules on what you can do after you have caught it,” he said.

He ended his post by thanking the DEP officers, the county dispatchers who assisted with the case, and his own family for tolerating the lingering skunk odor at home.